Barry and Nova remained pretty much neck-and-neck through the first 700 meters, both distancing themselves a little from the remaining four boats. Nova's 8 pushed hard around a slight turn nearing the midway point on the water before the Bucs made a charge over the last 1,000 meters to win a close race.

"Our 8 really responded with poise and power, and we were able to push ahead," Barry coach Dave Sanderson said. "It was a really strong, gutsy performance from the 8. It was a courageous row from the 8, and they came out with the win."

The Bucs 4 of cox Angela Dasch, stroke Kasia Walentynowicz, Mandy Carper, Helene Pierre and bow Rebekah Kilroy advanced to the final with a second-place finish in the Division II/III semifinal. Barry finished in 7:49.727 behind Bowdoin's 7:43.183. Florida State 40 was third in 7:54.875, and Nova fourth in 7:54.903.

After roughly a three-hour delay in the 4+ Final, the Bucs 4 put together another impressive piece, finishing second behind Bowdoin. Barry crossed the line in 7:39.521, while Bowdoin won it in 7:33.581. Rochester Institute of Technology was third in 7:42.639.

"They did a fantastic job with that race," Sanderson said. "They did it with a lot of poise in the semifinal. They put an even better piece together in the final. They rowed a smart, mature race. When they got to the moment when the race was really starting to happen, halfway through the race, they made a really strong move in the second 1,000 to move from a third to a strong second place.

"Bowdoin also rowed a great race. It's a great feeling for them to finish in a great placement in the race, and they did it with a fanstastic row."

It was a solid weekend of rowing through and through, and the contributions of the staff paid dividends.

"Our coaching staff of Boban Rankovic and Nick Goode, they each had a critical role in the success of our team today," Sanderson said. "Our trainer, Dani Glenn, also did a great job as she has in helping us all season."

Barry will compete in the NCAA Division II National Championships in Indianapolis May 31-June 2.

"It was a great weekend for Barry rowing," Sanderson said. "I couldn't be more proud of this team right now, and we're looking forward to the next three weekends of training before nationals."

Oh oh ....

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